Transportation Reauthorization Bill

MAP-21: Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) was signed into law in July 2012, authorizing and funding the federal surface transportation policy and programs for two years. MAP-21 expedites project delivery, establishes policies to improve freight movement, and consolidates a number of highway programs across federal highway, transit, and safety programs. MAP-21 expired on September 30, 2014; a continuing resolution extends the law through May 31, 2015. SEMCOG’s role continues to be performing the necessary transportation planning and directing the use of those funds in Southeast Michigan. Click on the links below for more information about MAP-21.

Transportation is vital to every aspect of our economy and personal lives. Highways, transit systems, railroads, and other modes of transportation serve to knit our region together and connect it with the nation and the world. SEMCOG has a vital role in the transportation planning process as the region’s federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Operating and maintaining a first-class transportation system is very expensive, so funding is always a critical priority. SEMCOG is in the forefront of many aspects of transportation funding, including financial forecasting, researching innovative ways to pay for needed improvements, and ensuring that adequate funding is available for proposed projects.

FAQs Regarding Road Funding

Michigan maintains just under 122,000 miles of public roads. Only seven states have more miles of roads and only two states (Texas 311,000 and California 172,000) have significantly more road mileage. Michigan has more miles of roads than New York, Florida or Pennsylvania.

Currently, the state collects just under $1 billion a year in motor fuel taxes and another $1 billion in vehicle registration fees. The Federal government also provides around $1 billion per year in road funding; this money is used primarily to improve the major roads in the state.

County road agencies have jurisdiction over all township roads that are not under state control, such as highways. Counties also have jurisdiction over select roads in cities and villages. Cities and villages have control over all roads within the municipality that are not controlled by the county or state.

Under a formula that was established in 1951: Up to 10 percent of all funds collected can be used for alternative forms of transportation, including transit buses, passenger trains, dial-a-ride and even bicycle and pedestrian travel. Of the remainder, 39 percent is retained by the Michigan Department of Transportation for major transportation projects, 39 percent is distributed to county road agencies, and 22 percent is distributed to city and village road departments.

The state funding formula takes into consideration many factors. The most important factor is the number of miles of road under that government’s jurisdiction. However, main roads receive more money than side roads, urban roads receive more than rural roads. Population is taken into consideration along with where vehicles are registered. Even how much snowfall has occurred over the past few years can impact state distributions.